Paul Dresser was born Johann Paul Dreiser, Jr. in Terre Haute, Indiana on April 22, 1858. He was an older brother of Theodore Dreiser, who would become a famous novelist. Like many Hoosiers from that part of the state, the Dreiser family was German Catholic. Young Paul spent time studying at St. Meinrad's seminary to become a priest, but the call to music was ultimately stronger than Paul's father's wish to have a priest in the family. Dresser played in medicine and minstrel shows throughout the midwest until finally settling in New York City where he wrote and published music. He became a principal owner of publishing house Howley, Haviland & Dresser and wrote scores of songs, including "On the Banks of the Wabash Far Away," which became Indiana's state song. Dresser was part of Manhattan's Tin Pan Alley music movement.
Despite his early success as a songwriter, Dresser spent as much money as he was able to make during his career, was particularly generous to family and friends, bad at running a business and slow to adapt to America's changing appetite for musical styles. He died peniless at his sister's house in New York City on January 30, 1906 at the age of 47. Dresser's last big hit "My Gal Sal" inspired a movie about his life.
